Scanning time on Waipaoa
Nick Herries, about to put his skills to the test on the hill behind him
On the farm calendar ewe scanning is one of the most important jobs for the year and Waipaoa's cadets recently had the opportunity to put all their skills to the test while playing a full role in the operation. On this particular day senior cadets Jason Coffey and Nick Herries were to ride out at 7am and muster a mob of mixed-age ewes and cows out of Moonlight Face, one of Waipaoa's steepest and highest hill paddocks. The brisk cool air and silence of early morning made for an enjoyable ride out to the block and as the sun rose the day's first task revealed itself as a couple of straggler ewes popped out from a small gut and decided that they did not want to be put back with the main mob.
With the ewes caught and returned to the main mob the job of pushing the ewes and cows up the main face and through a saddle that leads back to the woolshed holding paddock began. For two young shepherds with only a heading dog and huntaway each, this was a going to be a true test of their stockmanship. After an hour and a half of pretty intense dog and horse work the lead ewes slowly filed up through the saddle drawing the main mob behind them. Once at the holding paddock the cows were drafted off and left in the paddock as Jason and Nick headed for the woolshed yards with their mob of ewes. Back at the woolshed the other cadets had also been busy, loading ewes into the scanning race where a scanning technician from VETENT Gisborne was busy identifying those ewes with one, two or no lambs inside their womb. Although very busy the cadets had plenty of opportunity to learn about the scanning process and how it is important for pre-lamb ewe management. Stock manager Dave Stuart was on hand to offer the junior cadets advice on the correct way to work in-lamb ewes to minimize stress and to answer any questions about the operation.
Junior cadets, Jason Wyn-Harris (L) & Ben Te Kahika (R) making sure the ewes are kept up to the scanner
Jason Coffey keeps a watchful eye on the gate as the clouds gather